Playlist: High Holy Days

The following pieces relate specifically to the High Holy Days. PRX has a ton of fabulous material about Jewish History, also appropriate for these holidays. Check out our Jewish History Picks playlist.

Hour (49:00-1:00:00)

For Itzhak Perlman, the Jewish High Holidays – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – bring a flood of memories, many of them associated with music. In this one-hour special, the superstar violinist shares a wide variety of recordings that have special meaning for him, including several of his own performances. Ranging from classical gems to cantorial singing to raucous klezmer fiddling, the music will spark warm associations and an emotional response for all listeners.

For Itzhak Perlman, the Jewish High Holidays – Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur – bring a flood of memories, many of them associated with music. In this one-hour special, the superstar violinist shares a wide variety of recordings that have special meaning for him, including several of his own performances. Ranging from classical gems to cantorial singing to raucous klezmer fiddling, the music will spark warm associations and an emotional response for all listeners.

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD
MUSIC AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
PART I: ROSH HASHANAH
PART II: YOM KIPPUR
Sung by The Western Wind
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
In this classic performance, Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble join forces to explore the rich and profound musical and spiritual traditions of the Jewish High Holy Days. The Birthday of the World presents some of the most inspiring music in the Jewish liturgical tradition, performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Western Wind. Mr. Nimoy's timeless narration focuses on the universal themes of redemption and divine forgiveness.
"Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with outstanding cantors, this is an ideal High Holy Days service with a splendid narration by Leonard Nimoy, the performance is outstanding for the beauty of its artistry."-Hadassah Magazine
SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS
In 2008, Rosh Hashanah begins Monday night, September 29 and continues on September 30 and October 1. Yom Kippur which begins with the "Kol Nidre" service, starts just before sundown on Thursday night, October 9 and ends just after sundown on October 10.
It would be appropriate to play the Rosh Hashanah show (Birthday of the World, Part I) as early as 9/21 and up to 10/1 and to air the Yom Kippur show (Birthday of the World, Part II) from as early as 10/6 and through 10/10.
It is also appropriate to play both programs as a two-hour special anytime between September 30 and October 10.

THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD
MUSIC AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
PART I: ROSH HASHANAH
PART II: YOM KIPPUR
Sung by The Western Wind
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
In these classic performances, Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble join forces to explore the rich and profound musical and spiritual traditions of the Jewish High Holy Days. The Birthday of the World presents some of the most inspiring music in the Jewish liturgical tradition, performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Western Wind. Mr. Nimoy's timeless narration focuses on the universal themes of redemption and divine forgiveness.
"Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with outstanding cantors, this is an ideal High Holy Days service with a splendid narration by Leonard Nimoy, the performance is outstanding for the beauty of its artistry."-Hadassah Magazine
SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS
THE BIRTHDAY OF THE WORLD
MUSIC AND TRADITIONS OF THE HIGH HOLY DAYS
PART I: ROSH HASHANAH
PART II: YOM KIPPUR
Sung by The Western Wind
Narrated by Leonard Nimoy
In this classic performance, Leonard Nimoy and The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble join forces to explore the rich and profound musical and spiritual traditions of the Jewish High Holy Days. The Birthday of the World presents some of the most inspiring music in the Jewish liturgical tradition, performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble The Western Wind. Mr. Nimoy's timeless narration focuses on the universal themes of redemption and divine forgiveness.
"Sung by The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble with outstanding cantors, this is an ideal High Holy Days service with a splendid narration by Leonard Nimoy, the performance is outstanding for the beauty of its artistry."-Hadassah Magazine
SCHEDULING SUGGESTIONS
In 2008, Rosh Hashanah begins Monday night, September 29.
and continues on September 30 and 31. Yom Kippur which begins with the "Kol Nidre" service, starts just before sundown on Thursday night, October 9 and ends just after sundown on October 10.
It would be appropriate to play the Rosh Hashanah show (Birthday of the World, Part I) as early as 9/21 and up to 10/1 and to air the Yom Kippur show (Birthday of the World, Part II) from as early as 10/6 and through 10/10.
It is also appropriate to play both programs as a two-hour special anytime between September 31 and October 10.

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Host Larry Josephson talks with Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, about the history, liturgy and customs of the Jewish High Holy Days, and the value of these ancient rituals in the modern age.

The Jewish High Holy Days are the most solemn time on the Jewish calendar. The ten-day period between Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) are a period of renewal and reflection. Larry Josephson talks with Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor Emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary, about the history, liturgy and customs of the High Holy Days, and the value of these ancient rituals in the modern age. Music appropriate to the High Holy Days is interspersed throughout. NOTE: Program updated for 2009.

Each year, on the evening of the new moon, the beginning of the month of Tishrei in the Jewish lunar calendar, Jewish people around the world begin a period of prayer and self-examination that ends, ten days later, with a twenty-four hour fast. These are the High Holy Days, beginning with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, and ending with Yom Kippur, the day of atonement. These days are a time to reflect on the past year and to realign life with truth and wisdom, to prepare for a new year?s challenges.
In this program, Kabbalistic teacher, therapist, and author of "Sacred Therapy," Estelle Frankel and Cantor Richard Kaplan share the depths of insight accumulated by the Jewish mystical tradition of the Kabbalah. They discuss the insights in stories, teachings and music, gathered from that rich tradition.
?The Jewish New Year: Music and Inspirational Teachings from the Kabbalah? is part of Common Soul Productions? occasional series, ?Days of Wonder,? programs exploring the universal-spiritual meaning of the world's holy-days.
Note: This program was originally offered in 2004, with the title, ?Mystical Fusion: An inspirational program for the Jewish New Year.? No significant changes have been made to its content.
If your station has a copy of last year?s program, please contact Common Soul Productions to receive the re-titled program on CD.

Highlighting the spiritual and cultural significance of the Jewish High Holy Days, this program celebrates Rosh Hashanah with traditional melodies and classical music selections by Bloch and Handel.
Performers include harpist Rachel Van Voorhees, soprano Stacy Lowe, violinist Lisa Rautenberg, and the Western Wind.

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Cutaways (5:00-8:59)

Deborah Kassoff works for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and every Friday she packs her car and drives to towns like Natchez, Meridian, to provide religious services to congregations too small to have a rabbi of their own.

Deborah Kassoff works for the Institute of Southern Jewish Life and every Friday she packs her car and drives to towns like Natchez, Meridian, Clarksdale, and New Iberia. Kassoff is a traveling rabbi, and she provides religious services to congregations too small to have a rabbi of their own.
Although she always thought she?d take a more traditional pulpit, but during an assignment as a student rabbi in Greenville, Mississippi, she fell in love with the South. She was drawn to the challenge to serve communities that are outside the Jewish mainstream and to way that intensity of Southerners? religious beliefs.

Joshua Nelson, a proud African-American-Jew, explains how he fuses the soul music he loved as a boy with the sometimes dreary liturgical songs of his Jewish faith. He sure can spice up a service, just have a listen to the music he makes.

A narrated audio-rich trip through the holy land exploring the modern state of Christmas. Between Jerusalem and Bethlehem, between Easter and Christmas, there is a modern and yet ancient wall. In my travels I explore the origins of the conflict, all the way back to Abraham:

"...The name “Isaac” means “He Laughs” His laughter and blood becomes David’s...A lineage dripping with laughter, but blood is mixed with tears. Ishmael, the name, means “He Weeps” The brother of Isaac, the brother of Laughter, weeps to this day...

...In Jerusalem, religions compete to see which can get you up the earliest. Call to prayers from loud speakers in minarets try to beat the roosters. Then come wake-up bells from churches. Not even an Atheist can over-sleep in the holy land. "

INTRO: The sound that defines Rosh Hashanah [note- also Yom Kippur, Oct. 7] is the wail of the shofar. Virgina Rabbi Jack Moline explains why it’s such an important part of the Jewish high holy days.

OUTRO: Jack Moline is the head rabbi at the Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, Virginia. He spoke to Laura Kwerel, the producer of Interfaith Voices radio show. This year, Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Wednesday, Sept. 28. OR This year, Yom Kippur begins at sundown Friday, Oct. 7.

**Note- this is part of a larger series on religious sounds, the Soundscapes of Faith, which I'll upload soon. The series won 2 awards in 2009; more here: http://interfaithradio.org/soundscapes